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 2005 Tokyo Motor
Show Coverage |
There has been much to take in from the four halls filled with cars and motorcycles, and we've
shared the mechanical highlights here on the following pages. Other minor notables stand out,
such as the dual-display Eclipse AVN7905 double-din head unit that not only bundles a 30-gig
hard drive, 7-inch monitor, navigation system, and entertainment system, but it allows the driver
to view a different image than the front passenger. This techno miracle would allow the driver
to monitor the nav system legally, while the passenger watches "Cannonball Run." We also
delighted in touring the 50-years of Tokyo Motor Show exhibit, that included a wide array of
notable automotive milestones.
As always, the Tokyo show has us anxiously awaiting a number of new Nissan vehicles,
Skyline GT-R and Nissan Foria.
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• 2007 Mitsuoka Orochi Nude Top Roadster
Our first glance left us breathless and amazed by its styling. Our second glance left us
wondering "Does that thing actually have eyes?" For the record, everyone on our staff agreed
that this car wins the prize for "ugliest car of show." Mitsuoka admits the goal here was to
build a "fashion super car...with an overwhelming presence" not to necessarily achieve
high-performance specifications, saying the buyers of the Orochi will be "more interested
in the car's youthful spirt and presence than its specifications." That said, the Orochi's
light FRP body is built on a steel pipe frame with a double wishbone suspension; specs promise
a Toyota-sourced 3.3-liter/230-horse midengine V-6 mated to a Toyota five-speed automatic
transmission. Sales price is undetermined, but are set to begin in the summer of 2006, and
Mitsuoka hopes to sell 400 Nude Top Roadsters by 2009. Will somebody put a cover on that poor
naked thing? ....
• Audi Shooting Brake
After Audi lanches its new TT coupe in 2006, it will followed with a convertible as well as
a shooting brake hatchback, like the concept revealed here at Tokyo. Things we know for
sure - the next TT will be aluminum-bodied, and higher-performance TTS and TTRS models will
follow about 2008, with the TTRS' turbocharged 3.2-liter V-6 making up to 350 horsepower.
The 3.2-liter/250-horse V-6 in this concept carries forth, but the 200-horse FSI turbo four
replaces the 225-horse 1.8T engine. Again, the next TT will share its platform with the A3
and VW Golf. Steering switches to electro-mechanical, with speed-dependent power assist.
Magneto-rheological damping on the front MacPherson/rear multi-link suspension lets the
driver pick between "sport" and "comfort," by applying voltage to the damper fluid to change
the setup. The Shooting Brake concept is a virtual test-bed for a number of potential Audi
technologies, including a chronograph snuggled between two round air outlets that displays
information in analog or digital.The navigation system uses a pen to write addresses on the
screen, instead of the burdensome scroll-throughs to get a listing.
The nav has two modes: a "tour" mode with a 3-D bird's-eye perspective that lets the driver
take photos with a nose-mounted camera to store as route markers, and a "sport" mode that
picks challenging roads, and makes gear and speed recommendations...
• BMW Z4 Coupe Concept
Fresh from Frankfurt, the BMW Z4 Coupe Concept made its Asian debut, with its appearance
underscored by the declaration that this alluring model portends a future production car.
Similarly, the Z3 had been given the coupe treatment, creating a wonderfully handling machine
available in M form that brought out the best of the platform's vehicle dynamics, with the bonus
of enough luggage space for road trips. The car found a passionate audience, though its sales
numbers were small. This new "concept" revisits the formula once more, with the promise of
a stiffer structure and more sporting manners. Motivation for this hatchback comes from a new
magnesium-alloy 3.0-liter inline six that produces 265 horsepower, good for a claimed 5.7-second
0-60-mph sprint. Expect all the features and technology from the Z4 to transfer over to this
all-season two-door. We would expect to see the Z4 Coupe for the 2007 model year; the age of
the Z4 makes any later introduction unlikely.
• Ferrari GG50
Giorgetto Giugiaro began his car designing career at Fiat in 1955. In the five decades since,
he's been responsible for some of the greatest car designs of all times, from the Maserati
Ghibli, to the VW Golf. While at Bertone he designed two custom one-off Ferraris to order for
special customers, but those were the only Ferraris on his resume until this one. At last year's
Paris auto show, he asked Piero Ferrari if he could design a special Ferrari to celebrate his
50th anniversary as a stylist. Ferrari consented whole-heartedly, insisting he use a 612 Scaglietti
as a basis. The maestro shortened the overhangs and relocated the fuel tank to beneath the trunk
floor, freeing up luggage space and enabling a rear hatch with fold-down rear seatbacks. The
visual mass of the car is concentrated at the rear, and the B-pillars are removed. Folding the
front seatbacks causes the rear windows to retract to ease entry to the rear seat. The interior
is redesigned, but retains all Ferrari switchgear and underlying structure. The bodywork is in
carbon fiber. The GG50 is not a concept car, it is a runner that Giugiaro intends to drive.
Happy 50th Sr. Giugiaro....
• Honda FCX Concept
A huge departure from the original FCX -a stubby, three-door hatchback- the FCX Concept
takes Honda's fuel-cell car to new, fashionable levels. Dubbed a "premium sedan with
ultra-clean credentials," the FCX Concept utilizes a new, vertically arranged fuel-cell
stack in the center tunnel -a "vertebral layout"- allowing for an extremely low floor.
And by placing the front motor on the same axis as the gearbox, Honda was able to give
the FCX a short front end. The result is a stylish four-door with a swooping profile. An
integral part of the FCX package is Honda's new Home Energy Station (HES), which produces
hydrogen from natural gas. What looks like a large, home air conditioner, HES not only
supplies the FCX with hydrogen, it also generates electricity and supplies hot water for
the house. The FCX's futuristic interior is extremely advanced as well, thanks to technology
such as a speed-sensitive instrument panel that tilts up to 45 degrees; an interactive,
lighted floor that changes intensity to cabin temperature; and line-of-sight input switches
that display menu icons on the front windshield, allowing the driver to operate audio and
HVAC systems hands-free.
• Hyundai HVS
What happens when you cross a gas/electric powertrain like the one found in the Prius
with a body shaped like an elegant Miata roadster? You get the Hyundai Hybrid Vehicle
Sports car, a gorgeous little hybrid that offers a sophisticated fusion of driving performance
and environmentally friendly economy. Under that lovely little body is a 1.5-liter 16-valve
DOHC engine mated to an electric motor. Promising sporty response similar to that provided
by any 2-liter engine (about 100 horsepower), and offering better than 80 miles per gallon,
it would seem the Hyundai HVS is perfect for performance-mongers who are green at heart. Or
for tree huggers who yearn for more performance than they can get from their bicycles. Plus
it's just darn cute.
• Lexus LF-A
This ultra-high-performance Lexus sports car concept is not new, having been revealed at
the Detroit Show, but Toyota now has fully functioning versions of the car in operation,
though it insists no decision has been made on whether to put it into production. The problem
is the powertrain: prototype versions of the LF-A are currently powered by an all-new V-10
engine, reflecting Toyota's involvement in F1 racing, but with F1 shifting away from 3.0-liter
V-10s to 2.4-liter V-8s next year, Toyota is re-thinking the whole idea. Hot rumor around Tokyo
is a production version of the car could be powered by an all-new hybrid powertrain with a
small but powerful V-8 engine coupled to an electric motor powered by lightweight supercapacitors
rather than batteries. The world’s first hybrid-powered supercar would be the perfect halo car
for the Lexus brand, where hybrids will be the most powerful, best performing vehicles in each
model line.
• Mercedes-Benz F 600 Hygenius
Mercedes-Benz joined the fuel-cell fray in Tokyo with its F 600 Hygenius, a four-door compact
car that offers more than 80 miles per gallon. According to Dr. Thomas Weber, the DaimlerChrysler
executive board member responsible for Research, Technology and Development at Mercedes-Benz,
"Our new fuel cell is 40 percent more compact than previous systems, but at the same time
much more efficient and powerful." Translation: the fresh fuel cell produces roughly 30 percent
more power—-115 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque—-than its predecessor, yet consumes 16 percent
less energy. Much of the energy conservation can be attributed to the electric motor that
regenerates drive energy when braking, feeding it back to the lithium-ion battery. The bottom
line is that the F 600 Hygenius gets up to 81 mpg. Making the F 600 even more attractive are
myriad user- and family-friendly solutions: its fuel cell can be used as a mobile power
generator, it features video cameras for changing lanes and exiting the vehicle, and its
interior boasts luxury-car space due to rear seats that slide rearward up to 16 inches.
• Mitsubishi Concept X
Read the X here as a Roman numeral signifying that this is a thinly veiled rendering of the
tenth Lancer Evolution, expected next year. Described as "ruthlessly mechanical," the Concept
X's aggressive jet-fighter style nose, four-door-coupe roofline, big wing, and rear air
exhausters make the Concept X look more like a purpose-built sport-sedan than a hotted-up
econobox. Stretching the wheelbase an inch and the track two provides a much broader stance.
An aluminum hood, roof, deck lid, fenders and door panels help trim weight and lower the center
of gravity. Inside the show car are four racing buckets, loads of aluminum trim, and a square-bottom
steering wheel. Power continues to come from a 2.0-liter intercooled turbo, probably cranking out
north of 300 horses, but the six-speed manual transmission is automated with paddle shifters.
Also new is a Super All Wheel Control system that adds active braking, steering, and roll control
to the current roster of center-differential and yaw-control algorithms.
• Subaru B5-TPH
Ever yearned for a getaway car with a hybrid power plant? If so, then you'll love Subaru's Tokyo
concept car, the B5-TPH. Designed for couples who like to escape for long weekends, the B5-TPH
features Subaru's Turbo Parallel Hybrid (TPH) powertrain, which comprises a 2.0L Miller-cycle
turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. Directly connected to the crankshaft,
the electric motor is placed between the engine and the torque converter, resulting in zero
interference to Subaru's Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. Speaking of all-wheel drive, the
B5-TPH promises strong maneuverability off-road, thanks to large-diameter tires and eight
inches of ground clearance. Once you've arrived at your destination in fuel-efficient haste,
the B5-TPH offers easy access to your gear via a clamshell rear gate opening. And, of course,
the B5-TPH wears Subaru's new corporate design theme, which was first introduced on the B11S
concept car in 2003.
• Suzuki PX
Equal parts minivan and sci-fi lunar rover, the Suzuki P.X explores styling and packaging for
a mono-box shape. The silver appearance, inside and out, feels otherworldly, with shapes that
resemble machined aluminum. This FWD vehicle has three rows of two-place Recaro seating, in
sharing a common track to allow adjustment fore/aft. The cabin design is in tune with the
exterior, balancing a simple elegance and leading-edge technology. Beside the digital gauge
cluster arrayed in traditional pods is an liquid-crystal display for the high-end entertainment
center that sees giant, exposed speakers throughout the cabin. The overall design reminds us of
the seven Scarabs built by aircraft engineer William B. Stout back in 1936. This oft-forgotten
long-wheelbase minivan predecessor featured a rear-mounted V-8 engine and four-wheel independent
suspension. The interior featured much wood and wicker, inspired by aircraft of its time, to
create an open, RV-like space. This more modern Suzuki take on the capsule exterior design is
very well executed, making it a show standout.
• Volkswagen EcoRacer
The challenge put to VW’s engineers was to build a car with most of the fuel economy and
emissions purity of a Lupo 3.0 TDI (and that's 3.0 as in liters per 100 km, which works
out to 78 mpg), that also possessed the driving dynamics of a sports/racing car. The team
started with a newer, state-of-the-art turbodiesel 1.5-liter engine (up from the Lupo 3.0's
1.2-liter), mating it to a Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG), and mid-mounting it to drive the rear
wheels. The engine features 17:1 compression and the latest injection technology, which is
expected to pass all European emissions regulations while delivering 134 hp and 184 pound-feet
of torque good for 0-to-62 mph in 6.3 sec. The two-seat body is sheathed mostly in carbon-fiber
to hold down curb weight to just 1875 pounds. Furthermore, it can be configured as a T-top coupe,
with roof panels that automatically spring up when a door is opened, or these panels, along with
the center spine can be removed as can the section behind the B-pillar. A modular windshield
can even be replaced with a cut-down speedster screen. Sure seems like a winner to us, but there
are no firm plans to build the EcoRacer.
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